THEGARDA

Winter 2008 www.policehistory.com

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

GAZETTE

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Welcome to the re-launched Garda Gazette. I wish to welcome you backto the Historical Society and to invite you to attend our lectures and tovisit our Garda Museum in Dublin Castle. Our websitewww.policehistory.com is an excellent resource and one that is

constantly updated and improved. Please feel free to contribute to the GardaHistorical Society and to contribute your stories, letters and photographs to our GardaGazette.

As you already know the Garda Síochána Historical Society was re-launched lastOctober at the Bedford Tower in Dublin Castle. It was a welcome return for a much-loved society which has so much to offer not only our members but the organisationas a whole. It is with some regret that I say that we are losing so much of our writtenhistory with the advance of technology. Our records are more often electronic andwhat a shame it is not to see our station diaries filled with the wonderful handwritingthat we all knew as young recruits. The Garda Síochána Historical Society aims tocapture that history and to make it available to all.

An Garda Síochána has a proud history in which we all share. In many ways the historyof policing in Ireland is a record of social history. Since our foundation we have alwaysdepended on our close bond with the community we serve and it is in this bond thatwe have placed the value of our history. We have experienced the best of times andthe worst of times, we have seen the proudest times and the troubled times. Butthrough it all An Garda Síochána and others have been relied upon to meet thechallenges of every generation.

The events highlighted by the Garda Historical Society capture those moments in time.From the exploits of the Royal Irish Constabulary to the Dublin Metropolitan Police andAn Garda Síochána evolving from the community.

It is in this tradition that we acknowledge our former Commissioner Mr. Noel Conroy.Commissioner Conroy was one of the last recruits to have trained at the Garda Depotin the Phoenix Park. With his retirement passed a link that we all shared between thatera and ours.

We also welcome our new Garda Commissioner and Honorary President, Mr. FachtnaMurphy. We look forward to a busy and successful Garda Síochána Historical Societywith Commissioner Murphy at the helm and no doubt the support and patronage of allour members.

Chief Superintendent John KellyHonorary Chairperson

Garda Síochána Historical Society Committee members for 2008 Hon. President Fachtna Murphy CommissionerChairperson John Kelly C/SuptVice-chair Pat Doocie retiredTreasurer Mick Barrins retiredHon. Secretary Paul Maher SgtAssistant Secretary John Duffy retiredEx-Officio Pat McGee Inspector: MuseumMembership Officer Alan Bailey D/SgtSouthern Region Jim Herlihy Gda: BlarneyGarda College John Reynold SgtCommittee Member Tony Hickey retiredWebmaster Jim Croarke Sgt: Anglesea St.

Membership Full Membership is available for those whomay be in a position to avail of our annuallist of events and attend the AnnualGeneral Meeting with entitlement to vote.

Associate Membership is available forpersons not in category (a) - many ofwhom reside outside Ireland - is offeredwith an entitlement to receive the twiceyearly newsletter and events programme.

All applications for membership must beproposed and seconded by an existingmember. Written applications will be dealtwith by the committee. All who areinterested in membership of the Societyshould contact the Secretary, GardaSíochána Historical Society, The GardaMuseum/Archives, Records Tower, DublinCastle, Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 666 9998.

This year we will hold at least fourlectures on topics such as ʻThe PhoenixPark Murdersʼ and ʻBritish IntelligenceOperations in Ireland in the War Yearsʼ.We have some noted academics andjournalists giving lectures and we alsohave a number of members who arenoted authors and academics in theirown right; Garda Jim Herlihy, BlarneyGarda Station, has published a numberof books on the DMP and the RIC.

Our membership fee is €12.70 perannum and offers members great valuein terms of the service provided. We notonly provide lecture evenings but wealso assist in research projects, notleast in terms of career details of pastGarda, DMP and RIC members.

The Society re-launched lastOctober 25th at Dublin Castle andmembership has been steadilyincreasing. We offer membership toboth serving and retired gardaí.

Our lecture evenings are held in theGarda Club Harrington Street andother appropriate venues.Forthcoming events will beannounced in the Garda Reviewand on www.policehistory.com

2 3

Was it an unclaimed coupby an Irish revolutionaryorganisation? Or the workof experienced jewel

thieves attracted by the opportunitiespresented by a royal visit? Or was itone of the most egregious inside jobsin Irish criminal history. Before you goany further down this page it isimportant to note (to avoiddisappointment) that we do not knowthe answer and probably never will.

The Irish Crown Jewels were theregalia of the Order of St Patrick, keptin the Office of Arms in the BedfordTower in Dublin Castle. The jewelsconsisted of the insignia of the GrandMaster of the Order of St Patrick (theLord Lieutenant) – a jeweled Star andBadge – (Brazilian white diamondsand emeralds - and the collars andbadges of the Knights of St Patrick.They had been presented to the

Order in 1830 by King William IV –hence the description ‘crown’ jewels.On the basis of gem inflation theywould be worth close to €5m today.They were stored in a safe in theLibrary of the Office of Arms. Thesafe should have been in the Strongroom of the Office but a precursor ofMurphy’s Law ensured that when it

came to be installed it proved to betoo big to get through the strongroom door.

The Office of Arms itself was thepersonal fiefdom of Sir Arthur Vicars,Ulster King of Arm (equivalent of theChief Herald today) He was a fussy,prissy, aristocrat immersed in theminutiae of genealogy and heraldry –

ill fitted to being custodian, as ittranspired, of such significant andvaluable jewels. His two principal(unpaid) associates included FrancisRichard Shackleton, Dublin Herald,brother of the explorer Ernest, ayoung Anglo-Irishman with a militiabackground. For Shackleton heraldry

The investigation of an office abovesuspicion?

By Myles Dungan

THE THEFT OF THE IRISH CROWN JEWELS

“He could have put it moreconcisely – ‘Inside job’!”

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Welcome to the re-launched Garda Gazette. I wish to welcome you backto the Historical Society and to invite you to attend our lectures and tovisit our Garda Museum in Dublin Castle. Our websitewww.policehistory.com is an excellent resource and one that is

constantly updated and improved. Please feel free to contribute to the GardaHistorical Society and to contribute your stories, letters and photographs to our GardaGazette.

As you already know the Garda Síochána Historical Society was re-launched lastOctober at the Bedford Tower in Dublin Castle. It was a welcome return for a much-loved society which has so much to offer not only our members but the organisationas a whole. It is with some regret that I say that we are losing so much of our writtenhistory with the advance of technology. Our records are more often electronic andwhat a shame it is not to see our station diaries filled with the wonderful handwritingthat we all knew as young recruits. The Garda Síochána Historical Society aims tocapture that history and to make it available to all.

An Garda Síochána has a proud history in which we all share. In many ways the historyof policing in Ireland is a record of social history. Since our foundation we have alwaysdepended on our close bond with the community we serve and it is in this bond thatwe have placed the value of our history. We have experienced the best of times andthe worst of times, we have seen the proudest times and the troubled times. Butthrough it all An Garda Síochána and others have been relied upon to meet thechallenges of every generation.

The events highlighted by the Garda Historical Society capture those moments in time.From the exploits of the Royal Irish Constabulary to the Dublin Metropolitan Police andAn Garda Síochána evolving from the community.

It is in this tradition that we acknowledge our former Commissioner Mr. Noel Conroy.Commissioner Conroy was one of the last recruits to have trained at the Garda Depotin the Phoenix Park. With his retirement passed a link that we all shared between thatera and ours.

We also welcome our new Garda Commissioner and Honorary President, Mr. FachtnaMurphy. We look forward to a busy and successful Garda Síochána Historical Societywith Commissioner Murphy at the helm and no doubt the support and patronage of allour members.

Chief Superintendent John KellyHonorary Chairperson

Garda Síochána Historical Society Committee members for 2008 Hon. President Fachtna Murphy CommissionerChairperson John Kelly C/SuptVice-chair Pat Doocie retiredTreasurer Mick Barrins retiredHon. Secretary Paul Maher SgtAssistant Secretary John Duffy retiredEx-Officio Pat McGee Inspector: MuseumMembership Officer Alan Bailey D/SgtSouthern Region Jim Herlihy Gda: BlarneyGarda College John Reynold SgtCommittee Member Tony Hickey retiredWebmaster Jim Croarke Sgt: Anglesea St.

Membership Full Membership is available for those whomay be in a position to avail of our annuallist of events and attend the AnnualGeneral Meeting with entitlement to vote.

Associate Membership is available forpersons not in category (a) - many ofwhom reside outside Ireland - is offeredwith an entitlement to receive the twiceyearly newsletter and events programme.

All applications for membership must beproposed and seconded by an existingmember. Written applications will be dealtwith by the committee. All who areinterested in membership of the Societyshould contact the Secretary, GardaSíochána Historical Society, The GardaMuseum/Archives, Records Tower, DublinCastle, Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 666 9998.

This year we will hold at least fourlectures on topics such as ʻThe PhoenixPark Murdersʼ and ʻBritish IntelligenceOperations in Ireland in the War Yearsʼ.We have some noted academics andjournalists giving lectures and we alsohave a number of members who arenoted authors and academics in theirown right; Garda Jim Herlihy, BlarneyGarda Station, has published a numberof books on the DMP and the RIC.

Our membership fee is €12.70 perannum and offers members great valuein terms of the service provided. We notonly provide lecture evenings but wealso assist in research projects, notleast in terms of career details of pastGarda, DMP and RIC members.

The Society re-launched lastOctober 25th at Dublin Castle andmembership has been steadilyincreasing. We offer membership toboth serving and retired gardaí.

Our lecture evenings are held in theGarda Club Harrington Street andother appropriate venues.Forthcoming events will beannounced in the Garda Reviewand on www.policehistory.com

2 3

Was it an unclaimed coupby an Irish revolutionaryorganisation? Or the workof experienced jewel

thieves attracted by the opportunitiespresented by a royal visit? Or was itone of the most egregious inside jobsin Irish criminal history. Before you goany further down this page it isimportant to note (to avoiddisappointment) that we do not knowthe answer and probably never will.

The Irish Crown Jewels were theregalia of the Order of St Patrick, keptin the Office of Arms in the BedfordTower in Dublin Castle. The jewelsconsisted of the insignia of the GrandMaster of the Order of St Patrick (theLord Lieutenant) – a jeweled Star andBadge – (Brazilian white diamondsand emeralds - and the collars andbadges of the Knights of St Patrick.They had been presented to the

Order in 1830 by King William IV –hence the description ‘crown’ jewels.On the basis of gem inflation theywould be worth close to €5m today.They were stored in a safe in theLibrary of the Office of Arms. Thesafe should have been in the Strongroom of the Office but a precursor ofMurphy’s Law ensured that when it

came to be installed it proved to betoo big to get through the strongroom door.

The Office of Arms itself was thepersonal fiefdom of Sir Arthur Vicars,Ulster King of Arm (equivalent of theChief Herald today) He was a fussy,prissy, aristocrat immersed in theminutiae of genealogy and heraldry –

ill fitted to being custodian, as ittranspired, of such significant andvaluable jewels. His two principal(unpaid) associates included FrancisRichard Shackleton, Dublin Herald,brother of the explorer Ernest, ayoung Anglo-Irishman with a militiabackground. For Shackleton heraldry

The investigation of an office abovesuspicion?

By Myles Dungan

THE THEFT OF THE IRISH CROWN JEWELS

“He could have put it moreconcisely – ‘Inside job’!”

4

was a hobby which verged on being aprofession. He was also abusinessman and well connected inthe City of London. He sharedaccommodation with Vicars inClonskeagh. Pierce Gun Mahony,Cork Herald, was a nephew of Vicarsand an anglicized member of anotherwell known Irish family. Vicars hadfallen out with his half brother theformer Parnellite M.P. PierceO’Mahony when Pierce Gun Mahonyhad accepted the honorary position inthe Office of Arms.

On 11 June 1907, Vicars showedthe Crown Jewels to J.C. Hodgson,Librarian to the Duke ofNorthumberland at Alnwick Castle,who was on a visit to Ireland. Thiswas the last time that they were seenin public. On Wednesday 3 July, thecleaning lady, Mrs. Mary Farrell,found the front door of the BedfordTower unlocked when she arrived forwork. She reported this to WilliamStivey, the office messenger and he,in his turn, reported it to Vicars, whoevinced little interest in the matter.

On Saturday 6 July, Mrs Farrellfound the door of the strong-roomopen when she arrived for work. Shelocked the door and left the keys anda note for Stivey. Once again heinformed Vicars, who, once again,ignored him.

Later that day a messenger arrivedfrom West and Son with a gold collarof the Order which had been worn bythe late Lord de Ros. It was neededfor the investiture of a new Knight in aceremony that would coincide withthe royal visit of King Edward VII.Vicars asked Stivey to put the collar

in the safe and gave him his own keysto open the safe door. This, accordingto the messenger, wasunprecedented. Stivey discovered thesafe was unlocked. The jewels and anumber of collars were found to bemissing.

Vicars did not assist the earlymoments of the police investigationby a) first sending, not for a detective,but for the DMP Commissioner andhis Deputy, Sir John Ross and M.V.Harrell –both of whom operated, in

effect, as felony tourists and b)misleading the investigating detective,Superintendent John Lowe, when heasked had the strong room door beentampered with. Vicars replied ‘No’ –even though he’d been told a fewhours before that it had been leftopen overnight. (This informationcame to the police via Mrs. Farrell,who emerges, all the way through thestory as one of the heroes of thehour)

The thief had clearly taken his time.A piece of silk ribbon attached to theStar had been removed and left in thesafe, an operation which would havetaken about ten minutes.

Over the days that followed thediscovery of the theft themanufacturers of the safe (it was a‘Ratner’ manufactured by Radcliffeand Horner with a Milner lock) werequeried as to how it could have beenopened and Dublin locksmiths wereinterrogated as to duplicate keys.

The safe was found not to havebeen forced and no duplicate keysmade from a wax impression hadbeen used. This emerged throughexpert evidence at the subsequentCommission of Inquiry in January,2008. It was accepted, however, thatthe safe could have been opened witha duplicate key made directly fromthe original. This suggested to theDMP that the thieves had assistancefrom within the Office of Arms. Thediscoveries of Mrs Farrell were judgedby the detectives as attempts to drawattention to the theft in order to justifyan alibi whose time was about to runout.

On 9th July Superintendent Lowesubmitted a report on hisinvestigation to the Lord Lieutenant inwhich he said ‘it appears improbablethat any outside person who knew

“This, according to themessenger, wasunprecedented. Stiveydiscovered the safe wasunlocked. The jewels and anumber of collars were foundto be missing”

6

The Victorian eraThe Garda Síochána College wasoriginally constructed as Richmondbarracks in 1815 on a fifty-sevenacre site owned by Sir John CravenCarden (1757-1820) and whencompleted was one of the largestbarracks in Ireland withaccommodation for ‘54 officers,1500 men and 30 horses, a hospitalfor 80 patients; a bridewell; a feverhospital and a dispensary, ball, newsand reading rooms, and a publicbilliard table’. (Lewis, 1837)

Richmond barracks, Templemore1829.An intensive programme of barrackbuilding took place in Irelandfollowing the unsuccessful rebellionsof 1798 and 1803. Aside from thefear of further uprisings taking placein Ireland, England was at war withFrance, and the threat of invasionfrom Napoleon’s army was apossibility, given that French fleetshad arrived at Bantry Bay in 1786and Kilalla Bay in 1798. Severalbarracks were constructed in thecounty of Tipperary, which had along tradition of rebellion andlawlessness. Robert Peel, chiefsecretary for Ireland, when writing toWhitworth, the lord lieutenant in1813 commented that ‘you can haveno idea of the moral depravation ofthe lower orders in that county[Tipperary]. (Gash, 1976)

In 1847, Ensign Harry Loft of the64th Regiment was garrisoned inTemplemore, and while writing to hismother described Richmond as a‘splendid barracks, with two largesquares, and all the buildings three

stories high.’ The town itself hedescribed as ‘a wretchedplace…there is only one street withthree or four respectable shops’.(Loft, 2003). The presence of abarracks in Templemore alsoprovided the opportunity for localmen to enlist, as Richmond wasprimarily a recruit-training depot,where regiments were stationed for aperiod of time to recruit, train andthen depart on campaign throughoutthe British Empire. Irishmen wereconsidered good recruits, beingdescribed by one military Surgeon as‘physically and morally the bestadapted for service’, and they signedup in large numbers to accept the‘Queens shilling’ as shown in Table 1below. (Bartlett and Jeffrey, 1996)

Irishmen in the British army

1830–1898During the late 1850’s when the

Fenian movement was beingstructured, a large number of Irishsoldiers were ‘sworn in’ as membersof the movement. In Templemore, the11th Depot Battalion was transferredfrom Templemore to Enniskillen andreplaced by the 59th Regiment fromGlasgow as it was ‘stronglysuspected that the regiment wastainted with Fenianism’. (NenaghGuardian newspaper, 12 December1865)

World War 1By 1909 Richmond barracks hadbeen vacated, and Templemore towncouncil were informed by the WarOffice that there was ‘no prospect oftroops being quartered there in thenear future’. However, the outbreakof World War 1 in August 1914brought a reversal of this policy, andbetween October 1914 and March

1915, Richmond became a prisonerof war camp, holding over 2,300German soldiers who had beencaptured on the western front. Thetwo barrack squares were dividedinto four huge cages, complete withsearchlights, barbed wire and sentrytowers. Two of the POW’s died incaptivity and were buried with fullmilitary honours in Templemore.

German Prisoners of War in

Richmond Barracks 1914.

When the prisoners were transferredto a new camp in England, Richmondbecame a training depot for recruitsto the Munster Fusiliers and theLeinster Regiment. In 1916, soldiersof the Leinsters were dispatchedfrom Templemore to reinforce theDublin garrison during the Easterrising.

The Anglo-Irish War & Civil WarThe outbreak of the Anglo-Irish waris conventionally dated from 21January 1919 when a group of nineI.R.A Volunteers including Dan Breenand Sean Treacy of the 3rd TipperaryBrigade attacked a Royal IrishConstabulary (R.I.C) gelignite escortat Solohedbeg near Tipperary town.In the mêlée that followed, R.I.CConstables James McDonnell 50616,and Patrick O’ Connell 61889 werekilled.

Following the outbreak of theAnglo-Irish war, Templemore rapidlybecame heavily militarised, with the1st Battalion of theNorthamptonshire Regimentgarrisoned at Richmond barracks, acontingent of R.I.C Black & Tansbased in the Police barracks, and ‘B’company of the R.I.C AuxiliaryDivision (A.D.R.I.C) situated in the

Year % Year %

1830 42.2% 1878 21.9%

1840 37.2% 1883 20.0%

1868 30.8% 1893 13.4%

1873 23.7% 1898 12.9%

A brief history of the GardaCollege By Sergeant John Reynolds

4

was a hobby which verged on being aprofession. He was also abusinessman and well connected inthe City of London. He sharedaccommodation with Vicars inClonskeagh. Pierce Gun Mahony,Cork Herald, was a nephew of Vicarsand an anglicized member of anotherwell known Irish family. Vicars hadfallen out with his half brother theformer Parnellite M.P. PierceO’Mahony when Pierce Gun Mahonyhad accepted the honorary position inthe Office of Arms.

On 11 June 1907, Vicars showedthe Crown Jewels to J.C. Hodgson,Librarian to the Duke ofNorthumberland at Alnwick Castle,who was on a visit to Ireland. Thiswas the last time that they were seenin public. On Wednesday 3 July, thecleaning lady, Mrs. Mary Farrell,found the front door of the BedfordTower unlocked when she arrived forwork. She reported this to WilliamStivey, the office messenger and he,in his turn, reported it to Vicars, whoevinced little interest in the matter.

On Saturday 6 July, Mrs Farrellfound the door of the strong-roomopen when she arrived for work. Shelocked the door and left the keys anda note for Stivey. Once again heinformed Vicars, who, once again,ignored him.

Later that day a messenger arrivedfrom West and Son with a gold collarof the Order which had been worn bythe late Lord de Ros. It was neededfor the investiture of a new Knight in aceremony that would coincide withthe royal visit of King Edward VII.Vicars asked Stivey to put the collar

in the safe and gave him his own keysto open the safe door. This, accordingto the messenger, wasunprecedented. Stivey discovered thesafe was unlocked. The jewels and anumber of collars were found to bemissing.

Vicars did not assist the earlymoments of the police investigationby a) first sending, not for a detective,but for the DMP Commissioner andhis Deputy, Sir John Ross and M.V.Harrell –both of whom operated, in

effect, as felony tourists and b)misleading the investigating detective,Superintendent John Lowe, when heasked had the strong room door beentampered with. Vicars replied ‘No’ –even though he’d been told a fewhours before that it had been leftopen overnight. (This informationcame to the police via Mrs. Farrell,who emerges, all the way through thestory as one of the heroes of thehour)

The thief had clearly taken his time.A piece of silk ribbon attached to theStar had been removed and left in thesafe, an operation which would havetaken about ten minutes.

Over the days that followed thediscovery of the theft themanufacturers of the safe (it was a‘Ratner’ manufactured by Radcliffeand Horner with a Milner lock) werequeried as to how it could have beenopened and Dublin locksmiths wereinterrogated as to duplicate keys.

The safe was found not to havebeen forced and no duplicate keysmade from a wax impression hadbeen used. This emerged throughexpert evidence at the subsequentCommission of Inquiry in January,2008. It was accepted, however, thatthe safe could have been opened witha duplicate key made directly fromthe original. This suggested to theDMP that the thieves had assistancefrom within the Office of Arms. Thediscoveries of Mrs Farrell were judgedby the detectives as attempts to drawattention to the theft in order to justifyan alibi whose time was about to runout.

On 9th July Superintendent Lowesubmitted a report on hisinvestigation to the Lord Lieutenant inwhich he said ‘it appears improbablethat any outside person who knew

“This, according to themessenger, wasunprecedented. Stiveydiscovered the safe wasunlocked. The jewels and anumber of collars were foundto be missing”

6

The Victorian eraThe Garda Síochána College wasoriginally constructed as Richmondbarracks in 1815 on a fifty-sevenacre site owned by Sir John CravenCarden (1757-1820) and whencompleted was one of the largestbarracks in Ireland withaccommodation for ‘54 officers,1500 men and 30 horses, a hospitalfor 80 patients; a bridewell; a feverhospital and a dispensary, ball, newsand reading rooms, and a publicbilliard table’. (Lewis, 1837)

Richmond barracks, Templemore1829.An intensive programme of barrackbuilding took place in Irelandfollowing the unsuccessful rebellionsof 1798 and 1803. Aside from thefear of further uprisings taking placein Ireland, England was at war withFrance, and the threat of invasionfrom Napoleon’s army was apossibility, given that French fleetshad arrived at Bantry Bay in 1786and Kilalla Bay in 1798. Severalbarracks were constructed in thecounty of Tipperary, which had along tradition of rebellion andlawlessness. Robert Peel, chiefsecretary for Ireland, when writing toWhitworth, the lord lieutenant in1813 commented that ‘you can haveno idea of the moral depravation ofthe lower orders in that county[Tipperary]. (Gash, 1976)

In 1847, Ensign Harry Loft of the64th Regiment was garrisoned inTemplemore, and while writing to hismother described Richmond as a‘splendid barracks, with two largesquares, and all the buildings three

stories high.’ The town itself hedescribed as ‘a wretchedplace…there is only one street withthree or four respectable shops’.(Loft, 2003). The presence of abarracks in Templemore alsoprovided the opportunity for localmen to enlist, as Richmond wasprimarily a recruit-training depot,where regiments were stationed for aperiod of time to recruit, train andthen depart on campaign throughoutthe British Empire. Irishmen wereconsidered good recruits, beingdescribed by one military Surgeon as‘physically and morally the bestadapted for service’, and they signedup in large numbers to accept the‘Queens shilling’ as shown in Table 1below. (Bartlett and Jeffrey, 1996)

Irishmen in the British army

1830–1898During the late 1850’s when the

Fenian movement was beingstructured, a large number of Irishsoldiers were ‘sworn in’ as membersof the movement. In Templemore, the11th Depot Battalion was transferredfrom Templemore to Enniskillen andreplaced by the 59th Regiment fromGlasgow as it was ‘stronglysuspected that the regiment wastainted with Fenianism’. (NenaghGuardian newspaper, 12 December1865)

World War 1By 1909 Richmond barracks hadbeen vacated, and Templemore towncouncil were informed by the WarOffice that there was ‘no prospect oftroops being quartered there in thenear future’. However, the outbreakof World War 1 in August 1914brought a reversal of this policy, andbetween October 1914 and March

1915, Richmond became a prisonerof war camp, holding over 2,300German soldiers who had beencaptured on the western front. Thetwo barrack squares were dividedinto four huge cages, complete withsearchlights, barbed wire and sentrytowers. Two of the POW’s died incaptivity and were buried with fullmilitary honours in Templemore.

German Prisoners of War in

Richmond Barracks 1914.

When the prisoners were transferredto a new camp in England, Richmondbecame a training depot for recruitsto the Munster Fusiliers and theLeinster Regiment. In 1916, soldiersof the Leinsters were dispatchedfrom Templemore to reinforce theDublin garrison during the Easterrising.

The Anglo-Irish War & Civil WarThe outbreak of the Anglo-Irish waris conventionally dated from 21January 1919 when a group of nineI.R.A Volunteers including Dan Breenand Sean Treacy of the 3rd TipperaryBrigade attacked a Royal IrishConstabulary (R.I.C) gelignite escortat Solohedbeg near Tipperary town.In the mêlée that followed, R.I.CConstables James McDonnell 50616,and Patrick O’ Connell 61889 werekilled.

Following the outbreak of theAnglo-Irish war, Templemore rapidlybecame heavily militarised, with the1st Battalion of theNorthamptonshire Regimentgarrisoned at Richmond barracks, acontingent of R.I.C Black & Tansbased in the Police barracks, and ‘B’company of the R.I.C AuxiliaryDivision (A.D.R.I.C) situated in the

Year % Year %

1830 42.2% 1878 21.9%

1840 37.2% 1883 20.0%

1868 30.8% 1893 13.4%

1873 23.7% 1898 12.9%

A brief history of the GardaCollege By Sergeant John Reynolds

7

vacated mansion of Sir John Cardenat Templemore Abbey. The Black andTans and Auxiliaries were ex-servicemen that had been recruited inEngland early in 1920 to augment theregular R.I.C as the R.I.C were ‘nowuseless as a civil police force’.(Hansard, 1920) The Black andAuxiliaries soon established areputation for brutality, beingdescribed by the former Irish Memberof Parliament William O’ Brien as‘desperadoes of the vilest type.’(Holt,1960)

On two occasions the military andBlack and Tans carried out reprisalattacks in Templemore, once for thekilling of R.I.C District InspectorWilson by the I.R.A, following whichthe town hall was burnt down. Twomembers of the NorthamptonshireRegiment were killed during thisincident when they became trappedinside the town hall. Following thisincident, reports of ‘supernaturalmanifestations, accompanied bycures’ occurring in Templemore andnearby Curraheen were carried bylocal and national newspapers. (IrishTimes, 23 August 1920)

It was alleged that religious statueswere shedding tears of blood, and alocal youth, James Walsh claimed thathe was receiving visitations from theVirgin Mary. Many people believedthat ‘our Lady saved Templemore’,and that divine intervention had takenplace to prevent the town beingcompletely destroyed in revenge forthe death of D.I Wilson, as the‘military swore to sack the town andmake the Catholics pay for it’(Limerick Leader, 3 September 1920)

Thousands of pilgrims travelled tothe area each day to view the‘bleeding statues’, and thephenomenon of the ‘Templemoremiracles’ lasted for three weeks untilthe visionary James Walsh wasinterviewed by senior I.R.A memberDan Breen on the instructions ofMichael Collins. The I.RA decided thatthe apparitions were not genuine, andthe Catholic Church also expressed‘extreme reserve’ about the cures andmiracles attributed to them. (IrishTimes, 23 August 1920). TheTemplemore miracles finally endedwhen the I.R.A ambushed and killedtwo R.I.C members at Kiloskehannear Barnane on 29 September 1920.Pilgrims were forced to take thebodies of the dead policemen back toTemplemore in their car. This ambushbrought large number of military andpolice reinforcements to the area whoindulged in a ‘reign of terror byindulging in indiscriminate firing into

houses and across fields’.Rumours spread that Templemore

would be burned to the ground as areprisal for the Kiloskehan ambushand pilgrims, stall-holders and trampsall made a hasty exit. Within twenty-four hours normal conditions prevailedin the town once more.

On the 11th July 1921 a trucebetween the Irish ProvisionalGovernment and the BritishGovernment was arranged, and inNovember Richmond Barracks washanded over at a ceremony in theBarracks. Major Phibbs OfficerCommanding the 1st Battalion,Northamptonshire Regiment signedfor the British, and CommandantSean Scott O/C 2nd Battalion (mid.)Tipperary Brigade I.R.A representedthe new Irish Government. TheRegimental diary of theNorthamptonshire Regimentsarcastically noted that ‘the Barrackswas handed over to a motley forcecalling themselves the Irish Army’.Richmond was renamed McCanBarracks to commemorate the firstMember of Parliament for Mid-Tipperary, Pierce McCan, who died inGloucester prison in 1919.

During the Civil War which began on28 June 1922, the situation inTemplemore was very tense, with antitreaty I.R.A members knows as‘irregulars’ occupying McCanBarracks. Preparations were made bythe national army to storm thebarracks, but a truce was arranged bythe Archbishop of Cashel & Emly, Dr.Harty, which allowed the barracks tobe vacated by the irregulars, and theNational Army took over.

When World War II began in 1939, astate of emergency was declared inIreland, which remained neutral.McCann Barracks was occupied bythe 10th Uisneach Battalion, and untilthe war ended in 1945 a largegarrison was stationed inTemplemore. A commemorativeplaque is located at the CollegeDriving School remembering thesoldiers who served in Templemoreduring the emergency period.McCann Barracks was vacatedexcept for F.C.A camps during the1950’s, and when the F.C.A wasintegrated with the regular Army, itbecame the Headquarters of the 3rdField Artillery Regiment.

Garda Training CentreIn 1964 it was decided to move

recruit training from the Depot toMcCan Barracks, which became theGarda Training Centre (G.T.C) On 14February, recruits and staff left the

Phoenix Park Depot, which had beenused for training recruits since 1842,and marched to Heuston railwayStation and boarded a train called the‘Templemore Special’. On 21February, the G.T.C was officiallyopened by Mr. Charles J. Haughey,the Minister for Justice, andCommissioner Dan Costigan.

An enormous tragedy for An GardaSíochána and the G.T.C occurred on16 December 1983 23-year old recruitGarda Gary Sheehan, and PrivatePatrick Kelly of the Defence Forceswere killed while on duty atBallinamore, Co. Leitrim whilesearching for Mr. Don Tidey, who hadbeen kidnapped by the I.R.A. Amemorial plaque to R/Garda Sheehanis situated at the College Guardroom,and on graduation days, the GarySheehan Memorial Medal is awardedto the best all-round probationer.

In April 1989, following a majorexamination of training methods forAn Garda Síochána, a new two-yearStudent/Probationer TrainingProgramme was introduced A majorbuilding programme saw the facilitiesdeveloped and modernized to themost up to date standards in Europeand the name of the institutionchanged from the Garda TrainingCentre to the Garda College. In 1992the Garda College was designated anInstitute of Higher Education by theNational Council for EducationAwards (NCEA). In 1993 the two-yearStudent/Probationer programme wasaccredited by the N.C.E.A. with theaward of a National Diploma in PoliceStudies. A more recent developmentwas the introduction of a BA(Bachelor of Arts) in PoliceManagement Degree for members ofInspector rank upwards.

The Garda College Museum wasopened in 2002 and has a large collection of memorabilia from Ireland and around the world. Since opening,the Museum has proven to be a verypopular addition to College facilities,and a planned expansion will dealwith the Military history of thecomplex from 1815 to 1921.

The Garda College has a long andfascinating history since being built in1815. It has been centrally involved inRebellions, the Anglo-Irish war, the Civil War, the foundation of a new State, and more recently, has found a new lease of life as a world leadingPolice Training facility and vibrantthird level institution.

As it approaches its 200thanniversary, the Garda College is rapidly expanding to meet the needs of gardaí, and continues to play a

8

Edited extracts from a presentationto THE GARDA SIOCHANAHISTORICAL SOCIETY on Friday,11th April 2008 at the Garda Club,Harrington Street Dublin 2Even today, more than twenty yearsafter his death, thousands ofDubliners recall Jim Branigan andhis style of policing and it is verycommon to hear people say "if onlywe had a few like him around now".If only. Recently a group ofsolicitors were talking about Lugs inCourt No 4, Chancery Street, duringa recess. All agreed that if he wasaround now some criminal or otherwould have put a bullet in him along time ago. But the CourtRegistrar disagreed, saying that thebold Lugs, if he were on the beattoday, would still be in court everyday - but it would not be thecustody courts but the court acrossthe road, meaning the High Court.He would be so tied up in litigationfor ill-treatment, slander,deprivation of rights that he wouldbe tied up in civil actions for therest of his career.

On 18th June 1931 Jim Braniganjoined the Garda Síochána -

Number 8005 - and began a careerwhich was to put him in thelimelight both nationally andinternationally and see him becomea legend in his own lifetime. Whenhe entered the Depot, which wasthe training centre for Gardaí untilthe establishment of the GardaCollege, Templemore, Co Tipperary,in 1956, he had never seen a boxingglove, let alone hear about thefamous GBC. In those days theyoung recruit had to do an hour ofboxing and an hour of physicaltraining a day. Jim put on the glovesand got into the ring "to practisehow to defend myself".

The BoxerDuring this time Jim was taking hisboxing seriously and trained everyday to maintain peak fitness:"Besides training in the gym, Iwould get up at 5am every morning.

Jim earned a name for himselfduring the halcyon years of theGBC, although he did not rise to thedizzy heights of some of his othercolleagues. As he often saidhimself "I lost more fights than Iwon" and the extract of his careerfrom the records of the IABAelsewhere in this book bears thisout. Over his whole boxing careerhe won approximately half of all hiscontests. He was never knocked outin any of his bouts and he neverknocked out any of his opponentsand fought at cruiser-weight fornearly two-thirds of his career, andfrom August 1936 until 1939 hecontested in the heavyweight andlight-heavyweight classes. His firstmajor contest in the heavyweightclass was a most successful oneand brought him the LeinsterHeavyweight title.

First PostingAs a recruit he was posted toIrishtown, an assignment that didnot agree with him and he was toremain there for only three months.He did not get on too well with a

LUGS - The Life andTimes of Garda JimBranigan By Bernard Neary

Bernard Neary andChief Superintendent

John Kelly

Jim ʻLugsʼBranigan

7

vacated mansion of Sir John Cardenat Templemore Abbey. The Black andTans and Auxiliaries were ex-servicemen that had been recruited inEngland early in 1920 to augment theregular R.I.C as the R.I.C were ‘nowuseless as a civil police force’.(Hansard, 1920) The Black andAuxiliaries soon established areputation for brutality, beingdescribed by the former Irish Memberof Parliament William O’ Brien as‘desperadoes of the vilest type.’(Holt,1960)

On two occasions the military andBlack and Tans carried out reprisalattacks in Templemore, once for thekilling of R.I.C District InspectorWilson by the I.R.A, following whichthe town hall was burnt down. Twomembers of the NorthamptonshireRegiment were killed during thisincident when they became trappedinside the town hall. Following thisincident, reports of ‘supernaturalmanifestations, accompanied bycures’ occurring in Templemore andnearby Curraheen were carried bylocal and national newspapers. (IrishTimes, 23 August 1920)

It was alleged that religious statueswere shedding tears of blood, and alocal youth, James Walsh claimed thathe was receiving visitations from theVirgin Mary. Many people believedthat ‘our Lady saved Templemore’,and that divine intervention had takenplace to prevent the town beingcompletely destroyed in revenge forthe death of D.I Wilson, as the‘military swore to sack the town andmake the Catholics pay for it’(Limerick Leader, 3 September 1920)

Thousands of pilgrims travelled tothe area each day to view the‘bleeding statues’, and thephenomenon of the ‘Templemoremiracles’ lasted for three weeks untilthe visionary James Walsh wasinterviewed by senior I.R.A memberDan Breen on the instructions ofMichael Collins. The I.RA decided thatthe apparitions were not genuine, andthe Catholic Church also expressed‘extreme reserve’ about the cures andmiracles attributed to them. (IrishTimes, 23 August 1920). TheTemplemore miracles finally endedwhen the I.R.A ambushed and killedtwo R.I.C members at Kiloskehannear Barnane on 29 September 1920.Pilgrims were forced to take thebodies of the dead policemen back toTemplemore in their car. This ambushbrought large number of military andpolice reinforcements to the area whoindulged in a ‘reign of terror byindulging in indiscriminate firing into

houses and across fields’.Rumours spread that Templemore

would be burned to the ground as areprisal for the Kiloskehan ambushand pilgrims, stall-holders and trampsall made a hasty exit. Within twenty-four hours normal conditions prevailedin the town once more.

On the 11th July 1921 a trucebetween the Irish ProvisionalGovernment and the BritishGovernment was arranged, and inNovember Richmond Barracks washanded over at a ceremony in theBarracks. Major Phibbs OfficerCommanding the 1st Battalion,Northamptonshire Regiment signedfor the British, and CommandantSean Scott O/C 2nd Battalion (mid.)Tipperary Brigade I.R.A representedthe new Irish Government. TheRegimental diary of theNorthamptonshire Regimentsarcastically noted that ‘the Barrackswas handed over to a motley forcecalling themselves the Irish Army’.Richmond was renamed McCanBarracks to commemorate the firstMember of Parliament for Mid-Tipperary, Pierce McCan, who died inGloucester prison in 1919.

During the Civil War which began on28 June 1922, the situation inTemplemore was very tense, with antitreaty I.R.A members knows as‘irregulars’ occupying McCanBarracks. Preparations were made bythe national army to storm thebarracks, but a truce was arranged bythe Archbishop of Cashel & Emly, Dr.Harty, which allowed the barracks tobe vacated by the irregulars, and theNational Army took over.

When World War II began in 1939, astate of emergency was declared inIreland, which remained neutral.McCann Barracks was occupied bythe 10th Uisneach Battalion, and untilthe war ended in 1945 a largegarrison was stationed inTemplemore. A commemorativeplaque is located at the CollegeDriving School remembering thesoldiers who served in Templemoreduring the emergency period.McCann Barracks was vacatedexcept for F.C.A camps during the1950’s, and when the F.C.A wasintegrated with the regular Army, itbecame the Headquarters of the 3rdField Artillery Regiment.

Garda Training CentreIn 1964 it was decided to move

recruit training from the Depot toMcCan Barracks, which became theGarda Training Centre (G.T.C) On 14February, recruits and staff left the

Phoenix Park Depot, which had beenused for training recruits since 1842,and marched to Heuston railwayStation and boarded a train called the‘Templemore Special’. On 21February, the G.T.C was officiallyopened by Mr. Charles J. Haughey,the Minister for Justice, andCommissioner Dan Costigan.

An enormous tragedy for An GardaSíochána and the G.T.C occurred on16 December 1983 23-year old recruitGarda Gary Sheehan, and PrivatePatrick Kelly of the Defence Forceswere killed while on duty atBallinamore, Co. Leitrim whilesearching for Mr. Don Tidey, who hadbeen kidnapped by the I.R.A. Amemorial plaque to R/Garda Sheehanis situated at the College Guardroom,and on graduation days, the GarySheehan Memorial Medal is awardedto the best all-round probationer.

In April 1989, following a majorexamination of training methods forAn Garda Síochána, a new two-yearStudent/Probationer TrainingProgramme was introduced A majorbuilding programme saw the facilitiesdeveloped and modernized to themost up to date standards in Europeand the name of the institutionchanged from the Garda TrainingCentre to the Garda College. In 1992the Garda College was designated anInstitute of Higher Education by theNational Council for EducationAwards (NCEA). In 1993 the two-yearStudent/Probationer programme wasaccredited by the N.C.E.A. with theaward of a National Diploma in PoliceStudies. A more recent developmentwas the introduction of a BA(Bachelor of Arts) in PoliceManagement Degree for members ofInspector rank upwards.

The Garda College Museum wasopened in 2002 and has a large collection of memorabilia from Ireland and around the world. Since opening,the Museum has proven to be a verypopular addition to College facilities,and a planned expansion will dealwith the Military history of thecomplex from 1815 to 1921.

The Garda College has a long andfascinating history since being built in1815. It has been centrally involved inRebellions, the Anglo-Irish war, the Civil War, the foundation of a new State, and more recently, has found a new lease of life as a world leadingPolice Training facility and vibrantthird level institution.

As it approaches its 200thanniversary, the Garda College is rapidly expanding to meet the needs of gardaí, and continues to play a

8

Edited extracts from a presentationto THE GARDA SIOCHANAHISTORICAL SOCIETY on Friday,11th April 2008 at the Garda Club,Harrington Street Dublin 2Even today, more than twenty yearsafter his death, thousands ofDubliners recall Jim Branigan andhis style of policing and it is verycommon to hear people say "if onlywe had a few like him around now".If only. Recently a group ofsolicitors were talking about Lugs inCourt No 4, Chancery Street, duringa recess. All agreed that if he wasaround now some criminal or otherwould have put a bullet in him along time ago. But the CourtRegistrar disagreed, saying that thebold Lugs, if he were on the beattoday, would still be in court everyday - but it would not be thecustody courts but the court acrossthe road, meaning the High Court.He would be so tied up in litigationfor ill-treatment, slander,deprivation of rights that he wouldbe tied up in civil actions for therest of his career.

On 18th June 1931 Jim Braniganjoined the Garda Síochána -

Number 8005 - and began a careerwhich was to put him in thelimelight both nationally andinternationally and see him becomea legend in his own lifetime. Whenhe entered the Depot, which wasthe training centre for Gardaí untilthe establishment of the GardaCollege, Templemore, Co Tipperary,in 1956, he had never seen a boxingglove, let alone hear about thefamous GBC. In those days theyoung recruit had to do an hour ofboxing and an hour of physicaltraining a day. Jim put on the glovesand got into the ring "to practisehow to defend myself".

The BoxerDuring this time Jim was taking hisboxing seriously and trained everyday to maintain peak fitness:"Besides training in the gym, Iwould get up at 5am every morning.

Jim earned a name for himselfduring the halcyon years of theGBC, although he did not rise to thedizzy heights of some of his othercolleagues. As he often saidhimself "I lost more fights than Iwon" and the extract of his careerfrom the records of the IABAelsewhere in this book bears thisout. Over his whole boxing careerhe won approximately half of all hiscontests. He was never knocked outin any of his bouts and he neverknocked out any of his opponentsand fought at cruiser-weight fornearly two-thirds of his career, andfrom August 1936 until 1939 hecontested in the heavyweight andlight-heavyweight classes. His firstmajor contest in the heavyweightclass was a most successful oneand brought him the LeinsterHeavyweight title.

First PostingAs a recruit he was posted toIrishtown, an assignment that didnot agree with him and he was toremain there for only three months.He did not get on too well with a

LUGS - The Life andTimes of Garda JimBranigan By Bernard Neary

Bernard Neary andChief Superintendent

John Kelly

Jim ʻLugsʼBranigan

9

particular sergeant there and he tolda story about how on one occasion,on a Saturday morning coming up toChristmas 1935, he was on point dutyat the Haddington Road/ShepardsBush junction when he stopped a carin traffic to allow some pedestrianscross the road. When he beckonedthe traffic to move, the first carstopped in the middle of the junctionand the passenger asked Jim to goover to the curb side as he wanted aword with him.

It was Major General Murphy andhe wished to compliment Jim on histraffic handling and to query anunusual feature on his face - a blackeye. "You shouldn't be on duty withsuch an injury", remarked Jim'sboss. "It's okay, sir, it only looks alittle bad. I feel fine". "Did it happenin the course of your duty, Garda?",queried the General. "No, Sir".“Then how did it happen, man?". "Iwas in the ring last night in a contestwith an RUC Constable" remarkedJim, waiting to be ticked off forturning out for duty with a horrible-looking black eye. But to his surprisethe General engaged the bold Jim inconversation about his boxingexploits while from the corner of hiseye he saw his Sergeant at thejunction scribbling in his notebook.When the General terminated theirconversation and proceeded to driveaway, Jim took a note of the carregistration number and entered it inhis diary.

The following Monday when hereported for duty he was hauled

before his Superintendent, on acharge of gossiping. Jim admitted thecharge but refused to give the nameof the person he was talking to untilhe was formally charged in writing.When he left the Superintendent'sroom, the Sergeant remarked that hehad 'got' him. Jim said nothing. But acouple of days later when Jim was onparade, the Superintendent smiled athim - he had since discovered whoJim was talking to - and why Jim wasinsisting on being charged in writing."I'm sorry, Garda. If there is anythingyou want, I'll try and get it for you"said the Superintendent. "A transfer,sir" came the reply and shortly afterChristmas, in January 1936, hebecame Garda James C Branigan,160A Newmarket Garda Station. Jimsaid "goodbye and good riddance" toIrishtown to begin a long and famouscareer first in the Garda A Districtfirst and then throughout themetropolis.

The Battle of BaldoyleThe 'Battle of Baldoyle' as it wascalled, took place on May 14th 1940.It received massive media coverageand a few months later, when the trialbegan, it displaced the Second WorldWar in the National newspaperheadlines and on the radio. JimBranigan played a crucial role in theinfamous Battle and at the trial spentover four hours in the witness box,1½ hours giving evidence and 2½hours under cross-examination.

Jim recalled the trial: “The amazingaspect of the whole trial for me as acop was that the most seriouslyinjured man, who was called by theState as a witness, had to be treatedas hostile because he went back on astatement which he had made to theGardaí while in hospital. This was myfirst real experience of a Mafiacardinal rule of 'omertha' or silence,which in gangster lingo means thatonly death and trouble awaits thecanary who sings.

Jim described thugs as gowgers.By this time the spelling of that wordhad been refined to read 'gouger' bythe media and had even beenextended to cover the unruly femaleelement in society when in February1962 Jim referred to such ladies incourt as being 'gougeressess'.

In 1963 the violence on the streetscontinued to escalate and almostevery night the newspapers reportedcases of people being charged withpossession of knives and otheroffensive weapons. Jim had aconsiderable number of charges forthese type of offences during this

time - in a five-week period in early1963 he had charged no less thansixty thugs with possession of lethalweapons.

Jim Branigan was not a roughGarda and never used his batonduring his career. He did use hisgloves - those famous black ones -on occasion and also used his handto give some trouble-shooter a fewclips.

Promotion again came Jim's wayand in the beginning of December1963 he was promoted to sergeant.

The Riot SquadIn August 1964, the Riot Squad wasset up to deal with violence in Dublin;to be spearheaded by Jim Branigan,a vote of confidence by theauthorities in his ability to enforcelaw and order on the streets of thecapital.

Jim soon earned a reputation ashead of the Riot Squad and acolleague of his on that first teamtold how, at the end of August 1964,they were called to a Saturday nightstreet battle. The battle was at itsheight when they arrived on thescene. They heard a roar that "Lugsis here" and to their amazement sawhardened criminals running into thedarkness, leaving the fighting toanother night.

Undoubtedly 1964 was a milestonein Jim Branigan's life, being madeleader of one of the premier, activegarda units in the country at the ageof fifty-four. The Riot Squad proved an effectivemeasure of curbing the excesses ofDublin's gangs.�

Jim ʻLugsʼBranigan

10

As An Garda Síochána nowapproaches the 86thAnniversary of its foundation in1922 it is time for reflection upon

a number of issues that have helped tocontribute in establishing the Force as anintegral part of this countryʼs history. Since1922 the vital role played by An GardaSíochána as an unarmed, disciplined andcompletely legitimate defender of publicorder has made a vital contribution to theIrish State.

Raising standardsOn his appointment as Commissioner in1922 Eoin OʼDuffy took command of aforce of 1,689 men, with recruiting

virtually at a standstill. Working longhours with great urgency to make up forlost time, the new Commissioner and hissmall headquarters staff presented theDepartment of Home affairs a tentativeestablishment scheme providing for acomplement of 5,520. By February,1924, with the Force close to itsestablished strength, there were on file6,000 applications from hopefulcandidates; bringing to 30,000 thenumber of applications that had beenexamined since the appointment ofOʼDuffy as Commissioner.

The legislation in 1925 bringing aboutthe amalgamation of An Garda Síochánaand the Dublin Metropolitan Police

provided for a maximum establishmentnationally of 7.646 men.

Candidates sat an examination inarithmetic and dictation and in the abilityto write a ʻsensible letterʼ. OʼDuffywelcomed a Home Affairs proposal togive responsibility for the entranceexamination to the Civil ServiceCommission. He criticised a standardpegged at third class in primary school,which was unrealistic in the 1930ʼs.Contrasting the work of the old Courts ofPetty Sessions, overseen by unqualifiedmagistrates, and the new District Courtswith lawyers as justices, OʼDuffystressed the need for higher educationalstandards.

Garda memories fromthe pastBy Inspector Pat McGee

9

particular sergeant there and he tolda story about how on one occasion,on a Saturday morning coming up toChristmas 1935, he was on point dutyat the Haddington Road/ShepardsBush junction when he stopped a carin traffic to allow some pedestrianscross the road. When he beckonedthe traffic to move, the first carstopped in the middle of the junctionand the passenger asked Jim to goover to the curb side as he wanted aword with him.

It was Major General Murphy andhe wished to compliment Jim on histraffic handling and to query anunusual feature on his face - a blackeye. "You shouldn't be on duty withsuch an injury", remarked Jim'sboss. "It's okay, sir, it only looks alittle bad. I feel fine". "Did it happenin the course of your duty, Garda?",queried the General. "No, Sir".“Then how did it happen, man?". "Iwas in the ring last night in a contestwith an RUC Constable" remarkedJim, waiting to be ticked off forturning out for duty with a horrible-looking black eye. But to his surprisethe General engaged the bold Jim inconversation about his boxingexploits while from the corner of hiseye he saw his Sergeant at thejunction scribbling in his notebook.When the General terminated theirconversation and proceeded to driveaway, Jim took a note of the carregistration number and entered it inhis diary.

The following Monday when hereported for duty he was hauled

before his Superintendent, on acharge of gossiping. Jim admitted thecharge but refused to give the nameof the person he was talking to untilhe was formally charged in writing.When he left the Superintendent'sroom, the Sergeant remarked that hehad 'got' him. Jim said nothing. But acouple of days later when Jim was onparade, the Superintendent smiled athim - he had since discovered whoJim was talking to - and why Jim wasinsisting on being charged in writing."I'm sorry, Garda. If there is anythingyou want, I'll try and get it for you"said the Superintendent. "A transfer,sir" came the reply and shortly afterChristmas, in January 1936, hebecame Garda James C Branigan,160A Newmarket Garda Station. Jimsaid "goodbye and good riddance" toIrishtown to begin a long and famouscareer first in the Garda A Districtfirst and then throughout themetropolis.

The Battle of BaldoyleThe 'Battle of Baldoyle' as it wascalled, took place on May 14th 1940.It received massive media coverageand a few months later, when the trialbegan, it displaced the Second WorldWar in the National newspaperheadlines and on the radio. JimBranigan played a crucial role in theinfamous Battle and at the trial spentover four hours in the witness box,1½ hours giving evidence and 2½hours under cross-examination.

Jim recalled the trial: “The amazingaspect of the whole trial for me as acop was that the most seriouslyinjured man, who was called by theState as a witness, had to be treatedas hostile because he went back on astatement which he had made to theGardaí while in hospital. This was myfirst real experience of a Mafiacardinal rule of 'omertha' or silence,which in gangster lingo means thatonly death and trouble awaits thecanary who sings.

Jim described thugs as gowgers.By this time the spelling of that wordhad been refined to read 'gouger' bythe media and had even beenextended to cover the unruly femaleelement in society when in February1962 Jim referred to such ladies incourt as being 'gougeressess'.

In 1963 the violence on the streetscontinued to escalate and almostevery night the newspapers reportedcases of people being charged withpossession of knives and otheroffensive weapons. Jim had aconsiderable number of charges forthese type of offences during this

time - in a five-week period in early1963 he had charged no less thansixty thugs with possession of lethalweapons.

Jim Branigan was not a roughGarda and never used his batonduring his career. He did use hisgloves - those famous black ones -on occasion and also used his handto give some trouble-shooter a fewclips.

Promotion again came Jim's wayand in the beginning of December1963 he was promoted to sergeant.

The Riot SquadIn August 1964, the Riot Squad wasset up to deal with violence in Dublin;to be spearheaded by Jim Branigan,a vote of confidence by theauthorities in his ability to enforcelaw and order on the streets of thecapital.

Jim soon earned a reputation ashead of the Riot Squad and acolleague of his on that first teamtold how, at the end of August 1964,they were called to a Saturday nightstreet battle. The battle was at itsheight when they arrived on thescene. They heard a roar that "Lugsis here" and to their amazement sawhardened criminals running into thedarkness, leaving the fighting toanother night.

Undoubtedly 1964 was a milestonein Jim Branigan's life, being madeleader of one of the premier, activegarda units in the country at the ageof fifty-four. The Riot Squad proved an effectivemeasure of curbing the excesses ofDublin's gangs.�

Jim ʻLugsʼBranigan

10

As An Garda Síochána nowapproaches the 86thAnniversary of its foundation in1922 it is time for reflection upon

a number of issues that have helped tocontribute in establishing the Force as anintegral part of this countryʼs history. Since1922 the vital role played by An GardaSíochána as an unarmed, disciplined andcompletely legitimate defender of publicorder has made a vital contribution to theIrish State.

Raising standardsOn his appointment as Commissioner in1922 Eoin OʼDuffy took command of aforce of 1,689 men, with recruiting

virtually at a standstill. Working longhours with great urgency to make up forlost time, the new Commissioner and hissmall headquarters staff presented theDepartment of Home affairs a tentativeestablishment scheme providing for acomplement of 5,520. By February,1924, with the Force close to itsestablished strength, there were on file6,000 applications from hopefulcandidates; bringing to 30,000 thenumber of applications that had beenexamined since the appointment ofOʼDuffy as Commissioner.

The legislation in 1925 bringing aboutthe amalgamation of An Garda Síochánaand the Dublin Metropolitan Police

provided for a maximum establishmentnationally of 7.646 men.

Candidates sat an examination inarithmetic and dictation and in the abilityto write a ʻsensible letterʼ. OʼDuffywelcomed a Home Affairs proposal togive responsibility for the entranceexamination to the Civil ServiceCommission. He criticised a standardpegged at third class in primary school,which was unrealistic in the 1930ʼs.Contrasting the work of the old Courts ofPetty Sessions, overseen by unqualifiedmagistrates, and the new District Courtswith lawyers as justices, OʼDuffystressed the need for higher educationalstandards.

Garda memories fromthe pastBy Inspector Pat McGee

11

In a letter to the Department ofJustice, dated 28 February 1931, theCommissioner outlined ʻ…the day of thedull, unintelligent policeman had goneʼ.In an imaginative initiative, heintroduced an efficiency and fitness testfor all ranks and presented well-designed certificates, each signedpersonally by the Commissioner.OʼDuffy had to defend his initiative fromthe ambitions of the Civil ServiceCommission when it attempted to inflictexternal assessors on the Force. Hestated ʻ…it would be manifestly unfair tobring in an outside body to determinethe fitness of members of An GardaSíochánaʼ. The initiative of awardingcertificates greatly appealed to many ofthe recipients, coming from a cultureunused to such acknowledgement ofpersonal achievement.

A sober police forceAs it set about its task of restoringpeace the new Provisional Governmentwere dismayed at the rising tide ofdrunkenness and disregard for thelicensing laws which had crept in duringthe War of Independence.

The enforcement of the liquorlicensing laws was seen as a priority forall concerned. Commissioner OʼDuffywas asked by the Department of HomeAffairs if the Gardaí themselves werebeing warned that they ʻmust beextremely careful to set a goodexample….in order to preserve theirindependence as custodians of the lawʼ.The Minister was keenly aware of thetemptations for young incompletelytrained guards.

Drinking on duty after hours ʻwoulddeprive the guards of all of their publicusefulness in the enforcement of theLicensing Laws, apart from the breachof disciplineʼ.

In December 1922 OʼDuffy issued ageneral order on ʻIntemperance in theCivic Guardʼ. At that time half of theestimated strength of the Force hadbeen enrolled in the temperancemovement.

The weight of enforcing the LicensingLaws was soon felt in the land to theannoyance of a client in one drinking-shop. On conviction in Kilkenny DistrictCourt for after-hours drinking, thedefendant protested that he had beenfrequenting his local public house for fortyyears and was ʻnever interfered with bythe RICʼ.

The first Scott Medal winner, JamesMulroy and his colleague, John Donlan,had been on public house duty whenthey were attacked. On 28 December1925 Garda Thomas Dowling, 29 years,of Fanore, Co. Clare was ambushed

and shot dead in reprisal for hisenforcement of the illicit distillation laws.

These members, who had physicalconfrontation forced on them, made theheadlines, but there are few records ofthe moral courage of untried young menwho presented themselves in publichouses after closing time to carry outtheir duty, of the petty resentment andtaunts they accepted, and sometimesthe humiliation of challenges to fight thatin their good disciplined they ignored. Inthe years that followed there was nevera word of the courage of young menwho faced down bullies in remoteplaces.

The emergencyThe outbreak of World War II in 1939saw An Garda Síochána play a majorrole to deal with any threat arising fromthat conflict.

In the Spring of 1940, as the Germanarmies beset the Low Countries andswept across France, the part-timesoldiers of the Volunteer Reserve leftthe towns and villages to join the wareffort, leaving Ireland without a homeguard. In a radio broadcast theTaoiseach, Eamon de Valera, called forthe organisation of a Local SecurityForce (LSF).

Commissioner Michael Kinnanedelegated his most experienced officer,Deputy Commissioner W.R.E. Murphy,to organise the LSF. Putting all otherwork aside Murphy responded to thechallenge with great zeal.

On 4 June he circulated instructions toall members of the Force on theʻOrganisation and Duties of a LocalSecurity Forceʼ, followed on 24 June byfurther instructions on the separation ofmilitary and auxiliary police functionsand on 26 June and 13 July on theparticular duties of an unarmed LSF.

The Gardaí were seen as a keystone tothe success of this project. W.T.Cosgrave, saidat the time theguards wereʻgood servantsof the State,capable at amomentʼs noticeof eitherstopping thetraffic to letchildren cross,or defending theState with theirlives ifnecessaryʼ

Men of allagesvolunteered intheir tens of

thousands, including old republicanswho had never before crossed thethreshold of a Garda station. LocalSergeants instructed the volunteers inbasic police duties, with citizens living inthe vicinity of stations rostered forstation or cordon duties or asmessengers.

Superintendents became directlyinvolved in the organising a new armyreserve, the Local Defence Force (LDF).On 1 January 1941 the task ofoverseeing the LDF was transferred tothe army, with a guard seconded as anadministrative officer in each LDF area.The LSF remained under Garda controluntil the force was stood down at theend of the Emergency in 1946.

The Emergency Service Medalawarded to the Defence Forces andother voluntary organisations, includingthe LSF, was withheld from members ofAn Garda Síochána as the contributionby members of the Force, as permanentpublic servants, was deemed not to bevoluntary.�

The Garda Síochána Historical Societyis a non-profit making organisationwhich was set up in response torequests from both members of theGarda Síochána and the public. On 20January 1995, a meeting was held in theGarda Museum/Archives and the GardaSíochána Historical Society was born.

The Societyʼs aim is to bring thehistory and traditions of policing inIreland (especially the history of theGarda Síochána) into the public arena;

through lectures and exhibitions. TheSociety also acts as a support servicefor the development of the GardaMuseum/Archives.

The Society is grateful for the supportof Garda Management, the GardaRepresentative Association, the GardaSíochána Retired Members Association,St Paulʼs Garda Credit Union, StRaphaelʼs Garda Credit Union and the Dublin Metropolitan Region GardaSocial Club.�

Supported by:

Garda Síochána Historical SocietyThe Garda Museum/ArchivesRecords TowerDublin CastleDublin 2.

Tel: 01 666 9998Email: info@policehistory.comWeb: www.policehistory.comText 087 750 5013

12

11

In a letter to the Department ofJustice, dated 28 February 1931, theCommissioner outlined ʻ…the day of thedull, unintelligent policeman had goneʼ.In an imaginative initiative, heintroduced an efficiency and fitness testfor all ranks and presented well-designed certificates, each signedpersonally by the Commissioner.OʼDuffy had to defend his initiative fromthe ambitions of the Civil ServiceCommission when it attempted to inflictexternal assessors on the Force. Hestated ʻ…it would be manifestly unfair tobring in an outside body to determinethe fitness of members of An GardaSíochánaʼ. The initiative of awardingcertificates greatly appealed to many ofthe recipients, coming from a cultureunused to such acknowledgement ofpersonal achievement.

A sober police forceAs it set about its task of restoringpeace the new Provisional Governmentwere dismayed at the rising tide ofdrunkenness and disregard for thelicensing laws which had crept in duringthe War of Independence.

The enforcement of the liquorlicensing laws was seen as a priority forall concerned. Commissioner OʼDuffywas asked by the Department of HomeAffairs if the Gardaí themselves werebeing warned that they ʻmust beextremely careful to set a goodexample….in order to preserve theirindependence as custodians of the lawʼ.The Minister was keenly aware of thetemptations for young incompletelytrained guards.

Drinking on duty after hours ʻwoulddeprive the guards of all of their publicusefulness in the enforcement of theLicensing Laws, apart from the breachof disciplineʼ.

In December 1922 OʼDuffy issued ageneral order on ʻIntemperance in theCivic Guardʼ. At that time half of theestimated strength of the Force hadbeen enrolled in the temperancemovement.

The weight of enforcing the LicensingLaws was soon felt in the land to theannoyance of a client in one drinking-shop. On conviction in Kilkenny DistrictCourt for after-hours drinking, thedefendant protested that he had beenfrequenting his local public house for fortyyears and was ʻnever interfered with bythe RICʼ.

The first Scott Medal winner, JamesMulroy and his colleague, John Donlan,had been on public house duty whenthey were attacked. On 28 December1925 Garda Thomas Dowling, 29 years,of Fanore, Co. Clare was ambushed

and shot dead in reprisal for hisenforcement of the illicit distillation laws.

These members, who had physicalconfrontation forced on them, made theheadlines, but there are few records ofthe moral courage of untried young menwho presented themselves in publichouses after closing time to carry outtheir duty, of the petty resentment andtaunts they accepted, and sometimesthe humiliation of challenges to fight thatin their good disciplined they ignored. Inthe years that followed there was nevera word of the courage of young menwho faced down bullies in remoteplaces.

The emergencyThe outbreak of World War II in 1939saw An Garda Síochána play a majorrole to deal with any threat arising fromthat conflict.

In the Spring of 1940, as the Germanarmies beset the Low Countries andswept across France, the part-timesoldiers of the Volunteer Reserve leftthe towns and villages to join the wareffort, leaving Ireland without a homeguard. In a radio broadcast theTaoiseach, Eamon de Valera, called forthe organisation of a Local SecurityForce (LSF).

Commissioner Michael Kinnanedelegated his most experienced officer,Deputy Commissioner W.R.E. Murphy,to organise the LSF. Putting all otherwork aside Murphy responded to thechallenge with great zeal.

On 4 June he circulated instructions toall members of the Force on theʻOrganisation and Duties of a LocalSecurity Forceʼ, followed on 24 June byfurther instructions on the separation ofmilitary and auxiliary police functionsand on 26 June and 13 July on theparticular duties of an unarmed LSF.

The Gardaí were seen as a keystone tothe success of this project. W.T.Cosgrave, saidat the time theguards wereʻgood servantsof the State,capable at amomentʼs noticeof eitherstopping thetraffic to letchildren cross,or defending theState with theirlives ifnecessaryʼ

Men of allagesvolunteered intheir tens of

thousands, including old republicanswho had never before crossed thethreshold of a Garda station. LocalSergeants instructed the volunteers inbasic police duties, with citizens living inthe vicinity of stations rostered forstation or cordon duties or asmessengers.

Superintendents became directlyinvolved in the organising a new armyreserve, the Local Defence Force (LDF).On 1 January 1941 the task ofoverseeing the LDF was transferred tothe army, with a guard seconded as anadministrative officer in each LDF area.The LSF remained under Garda controluntil the force was stood down at theend of the Emergency in 1946.

The Emergency Service Medalawarded to the Defence Forces andother voluntary organisations, includingthe LSF, was withheld from members ofAn Garda Síochána as the contributionby members of the Force, as permanentpublic servants, was deemed not to bevoluntary.�

The Garda Síochána Historical Societyis a non-profit making organisationwhich was set up in response torequests from both members of theGarda Síochána and the public. On 20January 1995, a meeting was held in theGarda Museum/Archives and the GardaSíochána Historical Society was born.

The Societyʼs aim is to bring thehistory and traditions of policing inIreland (especially the history of theGarda Síochána) into the public arena;

through lectures and exhibitions. TheSociety also acts as a support servicefor the development of the GardaMuseum/Archives.

The Society is grateful for the supportof Garda Management, the GardaRepresentative Association, the GardaSíochána Retired Members Association,St Paulʼs Garda Credit Union, StRaphaelʼs Garda Credit Union and the Dublin Metropolitan Region GardaSocial Club.�

Supported by:

Garda Síochána Historical SocietyThe Garda Museum/ArchivesRecords TowerDublin CastleDublin 2.

Tel: 01 666 9998Email: info@policehistory.comWeb: www.policehistory.comText 087 750 5013

12